On this BizBlend episode with host Sana, we cut through the noise and get practical about Stoicism for builders navigating volatility, burnout, and high-stakes decisions. William Spears—submarine executive officer turned Pentagon leader and author of Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy—shares how to separate posture from practice: perceive clearly, choose deliberately, act with integrity, and recover fast. We apply core Stoic tools to hiring, crisis communications, negotiations, and moral stress (layoffs, pricing, investor pressure). If you want a calmer mind and cleaner decisions without the “motivational wallpaper,” this conversation is a field manual for founders and operators.

William Spears is a career Navy leader and author of Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy. Former second-in-command on a ballistic missile submarine and now serving at the Pentagon, he writes and speaks on leadership, ethics, discipline, and decision-making under pressure. He emphasizes he speaks solely in a personal capacity.

• Stoicism is a workflow, not an aesthetic: perceive events accurately, label emotions, and respond by choice, not impulse.

• Cognitive reframing is core: your reaction—not the external trigger—drives outcomes; train the gap between stimulus and response.

• Anger is liability, not fuel: the calm negotiator outperforms the agitated opponent in business and in the arena.

• Build self-control on demand: name sensations, slow the breath, and audit assumptions before speaking or deciding.

• Map your roles (leader, parent, partner, caregiver, human) and find resonance; alignment reduces burnout and improves longevity.

• Use a pre-decision checklist: facts, options, risks, values; then act quickly and review deliberately.

• In moral stress, lead with character: what is honorable is ultimately most useful; shortcuts erode trust, deals, and brand.

• North star rule: when “good professional” conflicts with “good human,” choose to be a good human first—the rest follows.

• Recovery is part of performance: after hard calls, debrief, own tradeoffs, and recommit to standards.

• Practical founder drill: before tough meetings, script your best outcome, worst outcome, red-line, and one sentence you will say if provoked.

• Website: https://williamcspears.com/

• LinkedIn

• Book: Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy (available on major retailers)

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This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer.

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